A special evening with a Grammy-winning flutist
Print Edition
Celebrated flutist and double Grammy winner Rakesh Chaurasia will perform alongside sitar virtuoso Purbayan Chatterjee in a special act that is destined to be the highlight of Chaiti Arts Festival’s evening of Indian classical music.
His artistry, steeped in tradition yet infused with innovation, has captivated listeners globally, earning him a place among the most revered flutists of our time.
The Indian flutist last performed in Shanghai in 2023.
“It was mesmerizing,” the multi-award-winning Chaurasia told Shanghai Daily.
“The crowd was almost 60-80 percent Chinese, and they were quite receptive to our music. Perhaps their receptiveness stemmed from the unique sound of the flute. Also, we were performing without any written notes, unlike in the Western orchestra, so that must have been unique to them. I quite enjoyed playing for them, and I hope we can entertain them this time too.”
Chaurasia, while schooled in the Maihar gharana, a lineage of musicians known for their distinctive musical style, is receptive to improvisation and experimenting with new genres.
“We are no longer rigid like old times. There is a lot of room for improvisation. If I enjoy film music, why should I deny myself that luxury? We perform with jazz and other Western musicians; when I like something, I try to incorporate some of their tunes or notes into my music. This involves deviating from a specific raga, but as long as I and the audience enjoy it, there’s no harm in it,” Chaurasia said.
“But a lot depends on the occasion and the audience. At a strictly classical festival like Sawai Gandharva (in Pune, India), it is unthinkable.
“Gharanas had strict rules. They had their own ragas, but today everyone is playing each other’s ragas. Why restrict yourself to one gharana when you like some other ragas? Each and every one of us is playing what we like and enjoy.”
In 2024, Chaurasia won two Grammys for his collaborative album “As We Speak” that merges Indian and Western classical music with jazz and bluegrass influences.
Anight of transcendence awaits when Chuarasia’s mellifluous flute entwines with the melodies of Chatterjee’s sitar to create the magic of soulful ragas, rhythms and spellbinding improvisations.
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